March 13-15, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia

In recent years, the role of labor in modern business has become increasingly difficult to ignore.  The past year alone has witnessed the resurgence of unions in some countries and the rise of so-called “digital sweatshops” in others.  Other developments – the disruption of global supply chains dependent on low-wage work, the fear that artificial intelligence will render high-wage jobs obsolete, and the growing problem of forced labor – similarly encourage examination of the relationship between businesses and the human beings who power them.

In light of these trends, the Program Committee invites submissions that consider the history of labor – broadly defined – as it relates to the larger history of business. Potential topics include the history of automation, deskilling, offshoring, the service sector, self-employment, the gig economy, child labor, workplace safety, migrant labor, white collar work, corporate paternalism, gender employment and pay gaps, government regulation, scientific management, labor organizing, union busting, coerced and enslaved labor, profit-sharing, and many more.

The Program Committee is especially interested in sessions that make business history relevant to contemporary policy debates.  To that end, the organizers welcome proposals for roundtables, workshops, and other events that move beyond the traditional panel format.

Poster proposals should include a paper/project abstract of approximately 300 words, as well as a 100-200-word description of how inclusion in the poster session could benefit your research.

To submit a proposal, go to https://thebhc.org/proposal-instructions

The deadline for receipt of all paper and session proposals is November 1, 2024. Notification of acceptance will be given by December 1st, 2024. Information on registration and fees for participation and the provisional program will be announced at the beginning of February 2025. Everyone appearing on the program must register for the meeting. 

More details and information are in the call for papers